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Kizer, Amber
8 Reviews
(3)
YA
It takes Jessica a while after the car accident to realize she's brain-dead; from the afterlife she heartily resists her "pieces" being "served up" to others via organ donation. As the reader (and Jessica herself) comes to know four teens who benefit from her organs, however, the profound and life-changing nature of the process becomes clear--and emotionally affecting.
Reviewer: Norah Piehl
(3)
YA
After surviving the BluStar pandemic, Nadia and her younger brother Rabbit set off on a cross-country road trip in search of their surviving family members in West Virginia. This realistic post-apocalyptic tale eschews adrenaline-spiked urgency and focuses on the details of Nadia and Rabbit's journey, which will fascinate teens interested in disasters and practical survival skills.
Reviewer: Barratt Miller
(4)
YA
Meridian and Juliet, Fenestras who help souls pass to the afterlife, attempt to out-maneuver the soul-stealing Nocti. Meridian and her Protector, Tens, struggle to connect with damaged Juliet. Happily, Juliet's own (surprising) Protector arrives at last. This book, overlong and somewhat repetitive, is weaker than its predecessors (Meridian; Wildcat Fireflies); readers hooked on Meridian's sweet romance with Tens may not care.
Reviewer: Katie Bircher
(3)
YA
Meridian (Meridian) and her boyfriend Tens search out her fellow Fenestras (part-angel beings whose duty is to help dying souls transition to the afterlife). They finally locate Juliet, but must rescue her from an abusive "rehabilitation center" and the demonic Nocti. An unusual paranormal premise and an honest look at first love are engaging; quirky, helpful human characters add humor and balance the darker themes.
Reviewer: Katie Bircher
(4)
YA
The star of Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time is back with more insights into dating, friends, and family. After her sex-obsessed loser of a boyfriend breaks up with her, Gert focuses her energy on longtime-crush Lucas. Curious, honest, and insightful, Gert is a great character stuck in a story hindered by trying-too-hard dialogue.
Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor
(3)
YA
A car crash on Meridian's sixteenth birthday brings the revelation that she's a Fenestra, a half-angel who helps the dying transition to the afterlife. Aided by her similarly gifted great-aunt and the attractive but irascible Tens, Meridian fights to protect innocent souls from the evil Aternocti. A satisfying balance of answered and unanswered questions allows for tantalizing possibilities.
Reviewer: Katie Bircher
(4)
YA
Gert (One Butt Cheek at a Time) is back with more reflective ramblings on dating, sex, and self-identity. Sophomore year brings a breakup, a parent's health emergency, and new experiences, like joining the soccer team and getting a job. Unabashedly forthright, Gert can be really funny--though following her self-centeredness for four-hundred-plus pages is a bit much.
Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor
(4)
YA
Brainy sophomore Gert doesn't fit in. She's always had her best friend Adam, but now that he has a boyfriend, Gert feels even more alone. Though she projects a tough exterior, Gert is actually insecure and lonely. Adam confronts Gert about her self-pitying "boring rambling," and readers may likewise lose patience with her cynical, though sometimes surprisingly perceptive, "rants and raves."
Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor
8 reviews
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